Overview
Safety glass is certified on its break-safe behaviour, which is what makes it different from ordinary annealed glass. The certificate has to show that when the glass fails it does so without causing serious injury — toughened (tempered) glass must fragment into small, relatively harmless pieces, and laminated glass must stay bonded to its plastic interlayer so it does not fall out as sharp shards. Because safety glass is used everywhere in Saudi construction — facades, shopfronts, doors, shower screens, balustrades and skylights — this performance is examined closely.
Safety glass falls under the SABER conformity scheme. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required for the product range, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is required for each consignment before it can clear Saudi customs. For safety glass, the certificate relies heavily on the fragmentation / impact test results, the glass type and thickness, and the product marking.
Product Types
The SABER route and safety-glass standards apply across a range of processed glass, including:
- Toughened (tempered) safety glass
- Heat-strengthened glass
- Laminated safety glass (PVB / EVA / SGP interlayer)
- Toughened laminated glass
- Insulated glass units (IGU) using safety glass
- Glass doors, partitions and shower / bath screens
- Balustrade, staircase and facade glazing
- Automotive and appliance safety glass (where in scope)
The scope of your certificate is defined from the glass type, thickness, interlayer and intended use. We structure the certificate so the products you actually export are covered.
HS Codes
Safety glass is commonly classified under the headings below. These are examples only — the correct code depends on the glass type.
- 7007.11 — Toughened (tempered) safety glass, of size and shape for vehicles / aircraft / vessels
- 7007.19 — Other toughened (tempered) safety glass
- 7007.21 — Laminated safety glass, for vehicles / aircraft / vessels
- 7007.29 — Other laminated safety glass
- 7008.00 — Multiple-walled insulating units of glass
Applicable Saudi Requirements
Safety glass is certified through SABER registration on the Saudi platform. The main requirements are:
- A valid PCoC issued against the applicable Technical Regulation for building / safety glass
- An SCoC for each individual shipment before customs clearance
- Fragmentation performance for toughened glass (particle count / no large shards)
- Pendulum impact / classification for safety glazing
- Interlayer bonding and edge stability for laminated glass
- Correct glass type, thickness and interlayer for the intended use
- Permanent marking identifying the glass as safety glass and its class
- A registered Saudi importer on the SABER platform to link the shipment
Technical Regulation
Safety glass is assessed under the Saudi Technical Regulation for building materials, as processed safety glazing. The regulation is built around break-safe behaviour (fragmentation for toughened glass, retention on the interlayer for laminated glass), impact classification, and correct identification of the product. The exact regulation and standard is confirmed at assessment from the glass type, thickness and HS code. Our Technical Regulations guide explains how regulations are matched to products.
Testing / Standards
Safety glass is typically evaluated against the toughened and laminated glass standards. Typical testing includes:
- EN 12150 — thermally toughened soda-lime safety glass
- EN 14449 — laminated glass and laminated safety glass (evaluation of conformity)
- EN 12600 — pendulum impact test and classification of flat glass
- EN 1863 — heat-strengthened soda-lime silicate glass
- Fragmentation test (particle count) for toughened glass
- ANSI Z97.1 / ASTM C1048 where the American route is used
Existing test evidence may be accepted where it covers the correct glass type, thickness and class. We review your reports before arranging any new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
Documents Required
A typical safety-glass application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- HS code of the glass
- Technical datasheet showing glass type, thickness and interlayer
- Fragmentation and / or pendulum impact test reports
- Laminated-glass conformity evidence (EN 14449) where relevant
- Marking / stamp photograph identifying the safety glass and class
- Declaration of Conformity and manufacturer details
- Saudi importer registration details
PCoC Process
The Product Certificate of Conformity certifies the product range against the applicable standards. In outline:
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Classification and scope
We confirm the glass type, thickness, interlayer, intended use, HS code and applicable standard, and define what the certificate should cover.
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Test review
We check whether your fragmentation, impact and laminated-glass evidence can be reused and confirm the marking matches the declared class.
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Technical review
An approved certification body reviews the documents, marking and test evidence against the regulation.
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PCoC issued
Once the review is satisfied, the PCoC is issued on the SABER platform. It is typically valid for one year.
SCoC Process
A Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued per consignment and is what customs checks at the border. In outline:
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Shipment details submitted
The invoice, packing list and the linked PCoC are submitted for the specific consignment.
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Verification
The shipment is verified against the valid PCoC, the declared glass type and class are confirmed, and the SCoC fee is settled on the platform.
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SCoC issued
The SCoC is issued for that shipment, allowing it to clear Saudi customs. Each new shipment needs its own SCoC.
Certification Timeline
The main variable is whether valid fragmentation / impact test evidence already exists for the glass range. Our SABER timeline guide covers this in detail.
- With acceptable existing test reports — a PCoC can typically be arranged within a few working days
- When fresh testing is required — fragmentation and pendulum impact testing turnaround is the main driver, usually one to a few weeks
- SCoC — normally issued quickly per shipment once a valid PCoC is in place
Common Problems
- Toughened glass producing large, sharp fragments (fails fragmentation)
- Safety pane with no permanent mark identifying it as safety glass
- Laminated glass with no EN 14449 conformity evidence
- Test report for a different thickness or glass build than shipped
- Ordinary annealed glass declared as safety glass
- HS code declared on the invoice not matching the glass type shipped
We check these points up front — especially the fragmentation result, the marking and the match between the test and the shipped build — so shipments are not held at customs or rejected for avoidable reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes glass "safety glass" for SABER?
Safety glass is glass that has been processed to fail safely. Toughened (tempered) glass is heat-treated so that, if it breaks, it shatters into many small blunt fragments rather than large shards. Laminated glass has a plastic interlayer that holds the broken pieces together. Ordinary annealed glass does neither and is not safety glass — declaring annealed glass as safety glass is a common reason for rejection.
Why is the fragmentation test so important for tempered glass?
The fragmentation test is the core proof that toughened glass fails safely. A sample is broken and the fragments in a defined area are counted — enough small particles, and no large dangerous shards, shows the glass was properly toughened. A panel that produces large sharp pieces fails the criterion, so this result is central to a toughened-glass certificate.
Does safety glass need to be marked?
Yes. Safety glass normally carries a permanent mark identifying the manufacturer, the glass type (toughened or laminated) and the relevant standard or class. This lets the glass be verified on site after installation. A safety pane with no permanent identification mark is a frequent gap we flag before submission.
How much does SABER certification for safety glass cost and how long does it take?
It depends mainly on whether valid fragmentation and impact test evidence is already in place. With acceptable reports a PCoC can often be arranged within a few working days; if fresh testing is required the laboratory turnaround is the main variable. Send your glass details and reports for a specific quote and timeline at no cost. See our SABER certificate cost guide.
How long is the PCoC valid, and do I need a new SCoC for every shipment?
A Product Certificate of Conformity is typically valid for one year, so one PCoC can cover multiple shipments of the same glass during that period. A Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued per consignment — every individual shipment needs its own SCoC before it can clear Saudi customs.
Which products and HS codes does this cover?
The same SABER route applies across toughened glass, laminated glass and insulated units using safety glass — generally classified under HS heading 7007 (toughened under 7007.19, laminated under 7007.29, with insulating units under 7008). We confirm the correct classification and applicable requirements for your exact glass during assessment.
Get Your Safety Glass Certified
Send us your glass type, thickness, interlayer, intended use, HS code and any existing fragmentation, pendulum impact or EN 14449 test reports. We will confirm the applicable Technical Regulation and standard, review your testing, and coordinate the PCoC and each SCoC so your shipments clear Saudi customs without delay.